It’s super hard to make it far in the playoffs without star power surrounding you, but it’s not impossible. There are a few instances in NBA history in which big-time players reached the NBA Finals without a single All-Star teammate and you can find all of the cases below.
Just a caveat: Sometimes, players who didn’t get picked for the All-Star team missed out because they were hurt early in the season, not because they weren’t some of the best in the NBA. A good example is Jimmy Butler this year. He didn’t make the All-Star cut but ended up on an All-NBA Team, which is why you’ll see Bam Adebayo‘s name on this list full of basketball legends.
Averaged 24.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg and 9.8 apg in the playoffs and won Western Conference Finals MVP
Averaged 20.4 ppg, 9.2 and 3.2 apg in the playoffs
Teammate Jimmy Butler made the All-NBA 2nd Team.
Lost in the NBA Finals to Golden State (2-4)
Averaged 25.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 6.2 apg in the playoffs and won Eastern Conference Finals MVP
Won in the NBA Finals against Phoenix (4-2)
Averaged 30.2 ppg, 12.8 rpg and 5.1 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Won in the NBA Finals against Golden State (4-3)
Averaged 26.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 7.6 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Won in the NBA Finals against Miami (4-1)
Averaged 17.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg and 4.8 apg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against Miami (4-2)
Averaged 27.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 2.5 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (2-4)
Averaged 30.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 5.6 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against San Antonio (0-4)
Averaged 25.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg and 8.0 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Miami (2-4)
Averaged 27.0 ppg, 11.7 rpg and 2.9 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against San Antonio (3-4)
Averaged 10.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg and 2.4 bpg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against Los Angeles (4-1)
Averaged 10.3 ppg, 10.1 rpg and 2.4 bpg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against New Jersey (4-2)
Averaged 24.7 ppg, 15.4 rpg and 3.3 bpg in the playoffs and and won Finals MVP
Lost in the NBA Finals against San Antonio (2-4)
Averaged 20.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 8.2 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (0-4)
Averaged 19.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 9.1 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Chicago (2-4)
Averaged 26.3 ppg, 10.9 rpg and 3.4 apg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against Utah (4-2)
Averaged 32.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 3.5 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Teammate Scottie Pippen made All-NBA 2nd Team
Won in the NBA Finals against Orlando (4-0)
Averaged 33.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 2.8 bpg apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Teammate Clyde Drexler made the All-NBA 2nd Team
Won in the NBA Finals against New York (4-3)
Averaged 28.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 4.0 bpg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Lost in the NBA Finals against Chicago (2-4)
Averaged 26.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 7.0 apg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (4-1)
Averaged 31.1 pg, 6.4 rpg and 8.4 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Detroit (1-4)
Averaged 21.4 pg, 7.2 rpg and 7.1 apg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (4-0)
Averaged 18.2 pg, 4.3 rpg and 8.3 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against LA Lakers (4-3)
Averaged 21.9 pg, 4.7 rpg and 8.7 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (2-4)
Averaged 26.8 pg, 14.5 rpg and 1.6 bpg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Los Angeles (2-4)
Averaged 24.4 pg, 7.6 rpg and 4.4 apg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Washington (3-4)
Won in the NBA Finals against Seattle (4-3)
Averaged 21.8 ppg, 13.3 rpg and 2.5 bpg in the playoffs
Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (2-4)
Averaged 17.9 pg, 10.1 rpg and 5.2 apg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against Washington (4-0)
Averaged 28.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 6.1 apg in the playoffs and won Finals MVP
Lost in the NBA Finals against Boston (3-4)
Averaged 32.2 ppg, 15.8 rpg and 4.9 apg in the playoffs
Won in the NBA Finals against New York (4-3)
Averaged 15.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 5.4 apg in the playoffs